MARK Yeoman had the shock of his life when he opened a letter from the council informing him that he had died and that his housing benefit was being stopped.

Not only was the 23-year-old very much alive, but he and girlfriend Stacey were celebrating the birth of their baby son just a week earlier.

The letter, addressed to Mark's executors and sent to his home in Kirkstall Avenue, Back o' th' Moss, says: "I am sorry to hear of your bereavement and I appreciate that this must be a difficult time for you.

"Regrettably, I have to inform you that Housing Benefit is not payable following a tenant's death. This means that the full weekly rent is payable with effect from 16 June 2003."

Although the letter is dated 3 July, it says that full rent is payable from a date more than a fortnight earlier.

"I was really shocked when I got the letter and went round to my dad's to ask him what I should do about it," said Mark. "We called social security and they sent an officer round. Because I am dyslexic I asked the officer to read the letter back to me so I could understand it properly.

"I asked her: 'Does this mean I am dead?' and she said 'Yes, I suppose it does.' When I spoke to the housing benefit people they said it was just a standard letter that goes out when people die. When I told her that I wasn't dead she said they were sorry for the inconvenience.

"But they didn't tell me why the letter had been sent out and I still don't know why. When I got it I just did not believe it. If my benefit is stopped that could put me into debt and it isn't my fault."

A council spokesman said that they had sent the letter because they had been informed of his death by his social security office as Mark was claiming income support.

Nigel Carleton, a spokesman for the Department of Work and Pensions, said: "We would like to sincerely apologise to Mr Yeoman for any distress this unfortunate error has caused. We are currently investigating how the error occurred and once this has been established, we shall endeavour to ensure that it does not happen again."